BEAUTIFUL MUSIC — The CHS Skyliners perform during the Christmas program in the CHS auditorium last Tuesday afternoon. I-O Photo by Deanna Wakkinen

By Deanna Wakkinen, I-O Reporter

The Growth Policy committee met last week and discussed future land use. Karla Breding mentioned that they are getting to a place where they can begin to include the public and get votes from the city on their proposals.

They are considering strongly the proposal of changing the residential zoning of Conrad. Currently there is residential A and B zoning. The Growth Policy committee would like to see the entire town uniform by allowing modular type trailer homes all around the town. With the new zoning, they would hope to set general provisions for the look of the town and would set restrictions on the types of homes being moved in.

This proposal is still in the works and will be discussed further at their next meeting Jan. 26 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Conrad Public Library.

Monica Huffman was present at the city meeting on Monday to clear up questions concerning her Community Service program. Huffman wrote for a grant to cover the hours that her and others have put in towards the program. Unbeknownst to her, the grant does not cover programs for those ages 18 to 20 because they are no longer deemed juveniles under the grant. City funds will need to be paid towards Huffman and others for the hours spent with the older MIP violators. She stressed that the older age of the offenders makes them able to provide hours of service with less supervision and her hope is to bill as few of hours as possible.

Huffman estimates that the Community Service projects, during grant time, only costs the city $200 a year.

The grant was for $10,800. Huffman also made the request that she be paid for 55 hours a month for her work with the juveniles in her program. These hours would be paid with the grant. This was approved.

Huffman is also currently working with three 17 to 20 year olds on a G.E.D. program. So far they are two months into a 10 month program. She said this will be the only class she teaches.

The Personnel Manual has gone through changes that were passed by the council. The changes state that city employees will be paid extra compensation for work they do outside of their normal realm. Examples of this include administration and the writing of grants, animal control by city officers and janitorial work.

Mayor John Shevlin’s request to be absent between Jan. 16 and Feb. 8 was approved. Breding and Wendy Judisch also put in requests to be absent at one meeting each and those were also approved.

Plans were submitted by two different companies relating to the industrial park across from the current one in Conrad. Plans were submitted by Kadrmast, Lee & Jackson (K,L&J) out of Helena and by pLAND of Missoula. A representative was present from K,L&J and indicated that their proposal included taking over the current project and soliciting to anchor new tenants. The city would need to get financing and water availability to the area. The water would need to be negotiated with MDT as it crosses their line. K,L&J would also include site designs for potential tenants.

The there were no building permits, water contracts or public comments during the meeting.

The council meets on the first and third Monday of every month. The public is always welcome to attend.